Mandatory Credit: Photo by LM Otero/AP/Shutterstock (13381698e) Quarterback Max Duggan, center, looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Tarleton State in Fort Worth, Texas Tarleton St TCU Football, Fort Worth, United States - 10 Sep 2022

College Football – Rank the Region – Week 10

Clovis Shropshire
October 31, 2022
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8 minutes read

1. #7 TCU (8-0) – Wins on the road in Morgantown are difficult to come by even in a down year, which is why I wouldn’t make too much of the Horned Frogs’ struggles to put away West Virginia in convincing fashion. TCU moves to a perfect 8-0 but remains at #7 in the AP Poll. The Horned Frogs head home to host Texas Tech for Fox’s Big Noon Saturday kickoff in another game that should test TCU but likely won’t result in movement in the polls with a win.

2. #15 LSU (6-2) – LSU was on a bye last week. This week is likely the Tigers game of the year as they play host to the Alabama Crimson Tide under the lights in Death Valley.

3. Texas (5-3)– The Longhorns were on a bye last week. Texas heads to Manhattan Kansas this week to face off against the #13 Wildcats who are coming off a shocking 48-0 win over Oklahoma State.

4. #19 Tulane (7-1)– Tulane was on a bye last week. With Cincinnati losing at UCF last week, the AAC now runs through New Orleans as the Green Wave are still undefeated in Conference play.

5. Baylor (5-3)– The Baylor defense created five turnovers en route to a 45-17 thumping of Texas Tech on the road in Lubbock. Baylor finished the game with a 21-point fourth quarter in what may have been their most complete team win of the season. The unfortunate news for the Bears is their November conference schedule may be the most difficult in the Big 12, with a trip to Norman, Oklahoma, to kick things off this Saturday.

6. Texas Tech (4-4)– It is nearly impossible to beat anyone in college football when you commit five turnovers, much less a conference opponent. Tech’s turnover issues were the primary focus for head coach Joey McGuire in his post-game press conference as the Red Raiders still look to find consistency at Quarterback. Up next is a trip to Fort Worth to face the seventh-best team in the country in TCU.

7. Texas A&M (3-5) – If I told you Freshman QB Conner Weigman would throw for 338 yds and four touchdowns, and Devon Achane would rush for another 138 yards, you would likely assume the Aggies solved their issues on offense and won. Instead, the Aggies went scoreless in the second and third quarters losing to Ole Miss and dropping them to 3-5 on the season with bowl eligibility in doubt. The good news is that the Aggies’ next two opponents in, Florida and Auburn, are both teams they can and probably should beat. The bad news is that if they lose one, they will likely be at home for bowl season.

8. Houston (5-3) – The Cougars moved to 5-3 over the weekend with a 42-27 win over USF. It wasn’t the defensive performance Houston may have wanted, but QB Clayton Tune had maybe his best complete performance of the season, throwing for 380 yds and four TDs. For as frustrating a start as it was for Houston to begin the season, they have just one conference loss and a very manageable conference schedule remaining.

9. UTSA (6-2) – The Roadrunners were on a bye last week. Next up is a showdown against UAB in a clash of two of the more dominant teams in CUSA over the last few seasons.

10. SMU (4-4) – SMU came out firing scoring on its first play from scrimmage on a Preston Stone to Rashee Rice touchdown pass. Despite Stone breaking his collarbone and the Ponies moving to their third string QB this game was never really in question. SMU had at least a two score lead for the majority of the game, limiting Tulsa’s ability to find any momentum on offense. The Mustangs are back to .500 and need two more wins to get to a bowl game in head coach Rhett Lashlee’s first year at the helm.

11. North Texas (5-4) – It appears Seth Littrell and the Mean Green have hit their stride. After blowing a late lead on the road at UTSA, UNT was in an ultimate hangover spot headed to Western Kentucky. Instead of a letdown, however, North Texas beat WKU 40-13 to cement itself as one of the top teams in CUSA. North Texas hosts FIU this week in a game they should win convincingly.

12. Rice (4-4)– The Owls were two-touchdown favorites over Charlotte, who had just fired head coach Will Healy earlier in the week. Instead of a homecoming win, however, Rice was humiliated by the 1-7 49ers in one of the more embarrassing losses I can remember. Rice needs two wins to get to a bowl game, but the Owls will be dogs in three of their remaining four contests.

13. UTEP (4-5) – Late in the fourth quarter UTEP closed the gap against Middle Tennessee to 17-13 but immediately gave up a back-breaking 75 yards touchdown that sealed the game for the Blue Raiders. The Miner’s remaining three games feature games on the road at Rice and UTSA, one of which they will need to win if they hope to get to a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.

14. Texas State (3-5) – Texas State was on a bye last week. Next up for the Bobcats is a trip to ULM in a game Texas State can absolutely win if it gets any sort of production on the ground.